Enhanced mechanical and tribological properties of graphene/bismaleimide composites by using reduced graphene oxide with non-covalent functionalization

In order to simultaneously improve the dispersibility of graphene in the bismaleimide (BMI) resin and the interfacial interaction between them, the polytriazine@RGO nanocomposite (PTZ@RGO) with terminal amine was obtained by the method of one-step precipitation polymerization. The PTZ@RGO hybrid nanocomposite was then chosen as filler to improve the mechanical and tribological properties of BMI resin. Through effective surface modification, the compatibility and interface strength between graphene and BMI matrix were significantly improved, leading to the flexural strength, impact strength, anti-friction, wear resistance and thermal stability of PTZ@RGO/BMI composites were significantly improved as compared to those of neat BMI resin and RGO/BMI composites. The other properties including hardness and thermal properties of composites were all improved with increasing amount of PTZ@RGO fillers. These high performance BMI composites have a great potential for application in aerospace, mechanical engineering and other automobile brake devices.